Chapter 28
"The very best of evenings to you! Now…to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year of full magical education awaits you. Mr. Filch has ask me to remind you that there is a ban on all items sold at Weasley Wizard Wheeze. Those wishing to play for their house Quidditch teams should give their names to their head of house as usual. We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions Master." Dumbledore said and there was whispers of confusion all over the hall.
"Professor Snape meanwhile, will be taking over the portion of Defense Against the Dark Arts." He said and there was a loud roar from the Slytherins and yells of "No" from Potter and his friends. Snape just nodded to the Slytherin table.
"YEAH. WOOOOOO." Brianna and Draco cheered with the others at there table. Dumbledore raised his hand for quite.
"Now, as everybody in this hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining strength. I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fornications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of the staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them-in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own safety." Dumbledore went on and on.
"But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say goodnight. Pip Pip!" he told everyone and all the students rose from there seats and headed for there dorms.
Brianna headed for bed as soon as she got inside the dorm. She was exhausted before the little romp with Snape in the hall but now she was barely able to stay awake to get into bed. She fell out as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next morning Draco and Brianna went to breakfast and waited for Snape to hand out there time tables. When they got them they saw they had a free period before there first class was DADA with Snape. Brianna could tell Snape was excited about teaching it. As much as he loved Potions he had always wanted to try and teach the subject and now he finally was.
Draco and Brianna used that free period to go to the Room of Requirement and check out the broke Vanishing Cabinet. Borgin had given them a few spells to start with to access how much damage there really was.
Once inside the room of forgotten things they went straight to the cabinet and uncovered it and became the spells. An Hour later they wrote down what they figured out and would mail Borgin an owl later that day. They snuck out of the room and made there way to DADA lining up outside the door with everyone else.
"Inside." Snape said when he opened the door. Once inside everyone stopped and looked around. Snape had redecorated making it darker than normal with curtains on the windows, candles lighting it. There were also new pictures on the walls of people who appeared to be in pain, sporting grisly injuries or strangely contorted body parts. Brianna and Draco smiled at the room, this was more like it.
Everyone was silent as they took seats. Draco and Brianna decided this year they would sit in the front row right near Snape's desk. Potter and his two friends were last to enter the room and had to take seats near the front as well. You could tell they did not like this very much, but Draco and Brianna did. They would get a full view of there torture in this class. Some students started taking out there books but the Slytherins did not, they new the how Snape was and unless he told you to take supplies out you did not.
"I have not asked you to take out your books. I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention." Snape said closing the door and moving to the front of the class. Brianna snickered when she saw Hermione hastily drop her book into her bag blushing.
Snape eyes sweep all there faces lingering on Brianna before he started talking.
"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if you all manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T work, which will be much more advanced." Snape said then started gracefully sweeping around the edge of the room and everyone turned and followed
his path with there eyes.
"The Dark Arts, are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible. Your defenses, must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures." He said pointing to a few as he passed. "Give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse, feel the Dementors Kiss, or provoke the aggression of the Inferius." He said before was interrupted.
"Has an Inferius been seen, then." Ask Parvati Patil in a high pitched voice. "Is it definite, is he using them?"
"The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past, which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again, Now, you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?" He ask the class. Hermione's hand shot up in the air and Snape looked around for anyone else. Brianna thought about letting him call on her but decided against it so she put up her hand as well.
"Yes, Miss. LeStrange." he pointed to her and Hermione huffed putting her hand down.
"The advantage is your opponent you are facing off will not know what you are about to cast like he or she would if you yelled out your spells. This gives you a split second advantage." Brianna answered.
That is correct. 5 points. Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some lack." he said glazing at Potter.
"I will give a short demonstration first, then you will divide into pairs and practice. Miss. LeStrange please come up here and assist me." He told her and everyone watched as she rose from her seat and pulled her wand. Her house mates cheering her on.
"Now, Brianna has learn non-verbal spells already and will be able to show you what it looks like when done correctly. Brianna, I will cast a simple jinx, I want you to non-verbally throw up a protection spell." he said and she nodded standing ready for the attack. Everyone, even the Gryffindor's watched in excitement.
Snape threw a simple stunner at her and a second before it was to hit she silently threw up a shield and it bounced off right back at him which he deflected. Everyone held there breath as they watch in awe she was able to do it so easily.
"Now, if you were paying attention you would have noticed that she concentrated enough to know exactly when my spell release and when to cast hers. Now, I want you to dived into pairs as I said. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking, The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on." Snape said and they all stood and partnered up.
Brianna and Draco partnered and Draco worked hard to get it down finally able to send a jinx at Brianna after about 15 minuets of trying. Then they swapped and he had a harder time shielding at the right moment but finally got it. Hermione also was able to repel Neville's jinx but Snape ignored her.
"Excellent Brianna, Draco. 10 points each." Snape told them and they smiled. They watched as he walked over towards Potter and Weasley, watching them both struggle. Ron was red in the face trying to concentrate, but had no success.
"Pathetic, Weasley. Here let me show you." Snape said pointing his wand at Potter and silently sending him a hex. Potter shouted "Protego!" and knocked Snape off balance and into the desk behind him. Brianna gasp along with almost everyone else. Potter was glaring in anger at Snape while some of his male friends gave him thumbs ups.
Snape righted himself, scowling.
"Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter."
"Yes." Potter said stiffly.
"Yes. Sir." Snape corrected him.
"There's no need to call me sir, Professor." Potter replied. Several more gasp were heard as Snape narrowed his eyes.
"Detention, Saturday night, my office. I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter….not even 'the chosen one'." Snape said in a dangerous voice. The class went back to practicing until the bell rang and the one's that made it into Potions left for Slughorn's first class.
When Draco and Brianna arrived there were very little student there. A few Ravenclaws, one Hufflepuff, Potter, Weasley, Granger, Draco, Brianna and Zabini. The three Slytherins took a desk in the front while the Ravenclaws sat together and the Gryffindor's and one Hufflepuff were together.
The dungeon door opened and Slughorn's fat self waddled into the room with a cheery smile on his face.
"Now then, now then, now then. Scales out, everyone and potion kits, and don't forget your books." he said and everyone did as they were told.
"Sir?" Potter ask.
"Harry my boy." Slughorn smiled.
"I haven't got a book or anything-nor's Ron-we didn't think we'd be able to do the N.E.W.T class you see?" he told him.
"Ah yes, Professor McGonagall did mention. Not to worry, my dear boy, not to worry at all. You can use ingredients from the store cupboard today, and I'm sure we can lend you some scales, and we've got a small stock of old books here, they'll do until you can get your own." he said handing both boys a book each.
"Now then. I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of things you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T. You ought to have heard of them at least. Anyone tell me what this one is?" Slughorn ask pointing to a potion. Both Brianna and Hermione's hand went up.
"Oh two I see. How about this, you tell me what it is and you tell me what it does." he said motioning for Hermione to go first.
"It's Veritaserum." she said then he turned to Brianna.
"Yes it is and it forces the drinker to tell the truth." Brianna replied.
"Very good. Now who can tell me these two." he ask both Brianna and Hermione raised there hands. He pointed to Hermione first.
"That one is Poly juice potion." She said.
"And that one sir, is Amortentia, it's the most powerful love potion in the world." Brianna replied and Slughorn and the other two Slytherins beamed.
"Quite right on both accounts. 20 points to Slytherin. And your name miss." he ask Brianna.
"Brianna LeStrange sir." she told him giving a sweet smile.
"Ah. Yes Professor Snape told me you were the best in his class. I suppose he was right. Now can you tell me how you identified this potion." he ask her and she nodded.
"The steam rising in characteristic spirals and it smells different to each person depending on what attracts them." she said.
"Absolutely correct. And you miss what is your name." he said to Hermione.
"Hermione Granger sir." she told him.
"Granger, Granger. Can you possible be related to Hector Granger." he ask.
"No, I don't think so , sir. I'm muggleborn you see." she told him blushing. Brianna and Draco snickered.
"Oho. 'one of my best friends is muggleborn and she's the best in our year!' I'm assuming this is the friends you were talking about Harry." Slughorn ask him.
"Yes sir." he replied. And Slughorn nodded.
"Amortentia doesn't create real love, of course. It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. No, this will simply create a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is probably the most dangerous potion in this room." he told everyone.
Brianna raised her hand.
"Yes Miss. LeStrange you have a question." he ask her smiling.
"Not really it's just you haven't told us what that one is. Is it Felix Felicis?" she ask.
"Oho. Yes absolutely." he said holding the bottle and Hermione gasp.
"You know what it does, Miss. Granger." he ask and she nodded.
"It's liquid luck. I makes you lucky." she told him in awe.
"Quite right, it's a funny little potion. Desperately tricky to make and disastrous to get wrong. However, if brewed correctly, as this is, you will find that all your endeavors tend to succeed…at least until the effects wear off." he told everyone.
"Why don't people take it all the time then?" a Ravenclaw ask.
"Because if taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness and dangerous overconfidence. Too much of a good thing, you know." he said.
"Have you ever taken any sir." the Hufflepuff ask.
"Twice in my life. Once when I was 24 and when I was 57. Two tablespoons taken with breakfast. Two perfect days. And that is what I shall be offering as a prize in this lesson. One tiny bottle to the student who makes the best attempt at the Draught of Living death. Off you go." he said and everyone got moving.
"Can you win that." Draco ask Brianna.
"Maybe. Will see." she said and she started working from memory. Snape had taught her his secrets in most potions and she remember this one was very different from the book.
"Sir I believe you knew my grandfather. Abraxas Malfoy?" Draco ask.
"Oh yes. I was sorry to here he had passed away." He replied as he passed there table. Brianna wasn't paying attention to anything else but her potion. She wanted to win that incase they needed it for there mission. An hour later Slughorn called times up.
"And times up. Stop stirring please." he said walking around the class. He looked into Potter's cauldron and called winner at first.
"It's perfect. You have you mother's talent for potions. Lily was one of my best students." he told him moving around the rest of the room. When he stopped at Brianna's he gasp.
"Oh my. Two perfect potions. My dear this is excellent. I never expected this. Well I suppose the best way to be fair is to split the Liquid Luck for the both of you. It wont be as much as you would have originally got but it's only fair. Do you agree." he ask and they both nodded. Potter looked mad he had to share and Brianna smirked at him.
Slughorn split the potion up into two. Enough for half a day each and handed it to them.
"25 points to each of your houses for your job well done. Now that's all for today. Miss. LeStrange will you stay after please." Slughorn said and she nodded. When everyone was gone he approached her desk.
"You did excellent today. Severus was correct you are one of the best in your year and a Slytherin too. Did you know I use to be head of your house years ago?" he ask her.
"Yes, my Uncle said you were his head of house when he was in school. He went own about how good you were as a teacher." she told him and he beamed in praise. She needed to get on his good side incase she hand to stop Potter from getting what Dumbledore wants from him.
"Yes, Lucius I remember him. He and Severus were in my house together. I heard he and his wife adopted you a few years back. Have you heard of the Slug Club dear?" he ask.
"Um a little. But not much sir."
"It's a gathering I put together of some of my best students. We get together and talk, have dinners and parties. It's a real honor you see. Would you like to join." he ask.
"Oh yes sir. I'd be must honored. Thank you." she pretended to be excited and he beamed again.
"Excellent look for my owl for the first invitation real soon. Now you better run along to class, so not to be late." he said and she bid him good day and left. Smirking at a job well done.
She went back to the common room and sat next to Draco.
"So what did old Sluggy want." he ask her.
"To invite me to the Slug club." she told him and he looked a little jealous.
"Draco do feel bad. It's not like I really want to go, especially with everything we have going on. But you remember what father said. I may need to get information from him and buttering him up could be the best way." she said and he nodded looking better.
"We need to start making plans for our first attack on the school as a diversion. I was thinking during the first Hogsmead visit in a few weeks. But we need somewhere we can plan, that no one else can find." Draco told her and she hopped up.
"Come with me I have just the place." she said and he followed, confused, out the common room. They snuck around the halls in the dungeons and Draco was sure he'd never find wherever they were going with out her. After what felt like hours they reached a wall with a small carving of a snake in it. Brianna stopped in front of it.
"Where are we." he ask but she held up a hand to silence him. She faced the snake and hissed in Parseltongue.
"Open."
Draco watched in amazement as the wall slowly dissolved into a door with Snakes all over it. Brianna took out her wand and tapped it a few times before it swung open.
Draco followed her inside and the door disappeared behind them. He looked around and they were in a huge chamber with Snakes on every please you could put them, there was also a small pond, a loo and a sitting area.
"Welcome Draco to the Chamber of Secrets." she said and he gapped at her.
"Are you serious." he ask walking around slowly.
"yes of course. Salazar's picture old me where this entrance that he used was. The one Potter used in the girls bathroom was just for the Snake monster and it's been sealed by Dumbledore. So, I and father are the only ones alive that know how to get in and where it is. It will only open for the heirs of Slytherin. So you wont be able to get in without me but it gives a place no one can get to." she said sitting on the couch and watching Draco look around.
"It's perfect. We could do whatever we want in here and no one would ever know." he said and she agreed. He finally came and sat next to her.
"So how'd this couch get here. I don't remember Potter saying anything about this place being comfortable when he was here." he said her.
"Well, when I first came in here it wasn't. But one day I was in here and wished I had a couch and poof one appeared. I ask Salazar about it and he said for me it will work like the Room of Requirement tends to do. He said since I and father of course are the only living heirs to any of the founders the castle will want to naturally follow our commands while were inside it. Cool Hun." she said and he nodded.
"So none of the other founders have an heir?" Draco ask.
"None that are alive anymore according to Salazar." she said.
"So what are we going to do first. We already planed to do things that will send the castle into panic, right?" Brianna confirmed and he nodded.
"So what would send everyone teachers included into a fit." she ask.
"A death threat of someone." he said.
"Yes but not just any someone. Dumbledore would be a good one. We could do things that would look as if someone is trying to kill him. It will put everyone on edge even him. He will be to smart to fall for any of it but it will make him edgy, and along with the poison slowly working it's way in his system he will be easier to kill at the end of the year." Brianna said.
"I like it so where to start." he ask and they spent all break working on a plan. They decided to Imperio the bar maiden at the three broom sticks to deliver a cursed necklace to a student that is on sale a Borgin and Burkes. They wrote Lucius a letter to buy the necklace and meet them in Hogsmead that day to give it to them. Once the student had it she would be under it's control and most likely end up cursed themselves before it made it to the headmaster, but he would know it's intentions. When word gets around the castle will panic. It was perfect and they had till mid October to get it done.
